{"id":4696,"date":"2025-10-30T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/?p=4696"},"modified":"2026-01-22T16:23:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T15:23:37","slug":"adventure-for-cancer-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/2025\/10\/30\/adventure-for-cancer-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Riding High: An ESCP MiM Student\u2019s 12,000 km Tallbike Adventure for Cancer Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Meet Tommaso Weller<\/a>, a Master in Management<\/a> student whose passion for innovation and adventure goes far beyond the classroom. After designing and building his own Tallbike <\/a>from scratch, he set out on a once-in-a-lifetime, 12,000-kilometer journey from Munich to Beijing. His mission: to combine his love for cycling with a greater purpose by raising over \u20ac15,000 for Deutsche Krebshilfe<\/a> (the German Cancer Aid Foundation). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this interview, Tommaso shares how the idea of riding a Tallbike came about, the challenges and lessons learned on the road, and how his ESCP experience helped him bring together creativity, resilience, and social impact in a unique way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspired you to build a tall bike and take it onto such an extraordinary adventure?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since my teenage years I\u2019ve loved bikepacking, but I also knew that if you want people to notice your story, you have to stand out. Many people travel long distances by bicycle, but very few do it on a self-built tallbike.

At the same time, I always wanted to do something good and charitable, and combining that with my passion for cycling felt natural. In the end, the three elements – the Tallbike, the charitable purpose, and my love for bikepacking – came together perfectly to create a project that is unusual, a little rebellious, and at the same time meaningful, proving that even such a unique machine can carry you across half the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why was it important for you to connect this journey with a cause like Deutsche Krebshilfe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The personal connection was very strong: my uncle died of leukemia as a teenager, before I was born. Even though I never met him, I grew up with the awareness that cancer affects families deeply and unexpectedly. Supporting Deutsche Krebshilfe gave my project a purpose larger than myself. Instead of just crossing continents for adventure, every kilometer became a step in raising awareness and funds for cancer research. Reaching and even surpassing the goal of \u20ac13,000 \u2013 one euro per kilometer \u2013 gave the trip a truly meaningful dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back, what were the most powerful lessons you learned during your ride from Germany to China?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There were a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Resilience matters most: Each day brought new challenges \u2013 weather, road conditions, or language barriers \u2013 and I had to learn to adapt quickly without losing sight of the bigger goal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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    • The power of kindness: From strangers offering food to families opening their homes, the hospitality along the way reminded me that generosity exists everywhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      • Simplicity brings clarity: Traveling by bike strips life down to basics: eat, ride, sleep, repeat. That rhythm helped me appreciate small victories and stay grounded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In what ways did your experience at ESCP help you take this bold idea from vision to reality?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        ESCP taught me that bold, international projects are possible if you combine structure with creativity. During my Master in Management and my exchange at Tsinghua University, I learned to work across cultures, manage logistics, and communicate ideas clearly. The fundraising campaign, sponsor partnerships, and outreach to media all reflected the project management and entrepreneurial mindset I developed at ESCP. In many ways, the school\u2019s values of Excellence, Singularity, Creativity, and Plurality were mirrored in this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What advice would you give to other students who want to take on such an adventurous passion project?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Don\u2019t wait for the \u201cperfect moment\u201d. Start small, build momentum, and let your project grow. Combine your personal passion with a cause that matters, because that gives you motivation on the hard days and creates real, genuine impact. Surround yourself with supporters and partners who believe in your vision. And finally: don\u2019t be afraid to be different. Sometimes the craziest ideas \u2013 like riding a tallbike from Munich to Beijing \u2013 are the ones that inspire people most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t

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